More Good News From Iraq

The poltical gridlock appears to have eased up some allowing the Iraqi Parliament to elect a speaker and two deputy speakers (although some members missed the vote because they were held up by plain old gridlock plus security).

I have only two problems with this. First I am a bit bummed that Hussain al-Shahristani was elected to the symbolic and powerless post of deputy speaker. I am a big fan of Hussain al-Shahristani.

Second I can no longer avoid being optimistic about Iraq. This is worrying because my predictions are always wrong. However, I am pleased to read this prediction by the absolutely brilliant Matthew Yglesias.